Overview & Reviews

Volkswagen is an automaker based in Germany. Its products typically command a higher price than those of competing models, but the return is a more upscale driving and ownership experience.

In 1934, Ferdinand Porsche was commissioned to build a small, inexpensive car at the request of Adolph Hitler. His answer -- a beetle-shaped sedan that was called a Volkswagen (German for "people's car") -- debuted two years later. Hitler had a town built near the plant for factory workers; he named it Kraft durch Freude Stadt (derived from the Nazi party's motto, "Joy through Strength"), and soon decided that Porsche's creation should be named the KdF-wagen (short for the "Joy through Strength" car). This upset Porsche, who was not political.

World War II delayed production of the vehicle; the factory suffered extensive damage during combat, and was ultimately taken over by the British Army. The company was renamed Volkswagen, and the town at the factory was renamed Wolfsburg (after Werner von Schulenberg of Wolfsburg, who had been forced to surrender his land for the construction of the town and factory). By the end of the 1940s, mass production of the Volkswagen Beetle had begun. The model made its first appearance on U.S. shores in 1949.

The 1950s saw Volkswagen broadening its product range, adding the Bus (Type 2) to its lineup. The Bus, especially, proved quite popular due to its versatility. And the Beetle, which went on to become the best-selling car of all time, quickly showed signs of being an enduring favorite, with more than 1 million models produced at the Wolfsburg factory by 1955. This decade also saw the debut of the Karmann Ghia sports car, which featured a sleek, Italian-designed two-seater body atop a Beetle platform.

Volkswagen's star rose during the 1960s, its success fueled largely by the breakout success of the Beetle. The car benefited from an effective advertising campaign and from an appearance in a popular Disney movie. By the close of the decade, Volkswagen's yearly output of Beetles topped the 1 million mark.

In 1972, with more than 15 million units assembled, the Beetle topped the world production record set by Ford's Model T. Mid-decade saw the launch of a new era of Volkswagens that had front-mounted, water-cooled engines driving the front wheels. The Passat (Dasher in the U.S.) was the first of the new breed and was built using standardized components that could be used interchangeably among other models in the manufacturer's lineup. The Passat was soon joined by the Golf (Rabbit in the U.S.), which met with immediate success. By the end of the decade, the manufacturer's lineup had grown to include the Scirocco sport coupe and the performance-oriented Golf/Rabbit GTI. The Beetle, however, was discontinued for the U.S. market.

The Golf grew in popularity during the '80s, becoming Volkswagen's most popular model. When a second generation of the car was built in 1983, it was crafted in a mostly automated process using robots -- marking the first time robots had been used in vehicle manufacture. By the mid-'80s, the U.S. version traded the Rabbit name for "Golf." The higher-performance Golf GTI helped the manufacturer make waves on the rally circuit. In 1986, Volkswagen Motorsport nabbed the title of Group A World Rally Champions.

Volkswagen saw its sales in the North American market tumble during the early '90s, but by the end of the decade, refocused marketing efforts and an increased emphasis on new products had brought about a turnaround in the company's fortunes. The popular New Beetle helped put the company back on the radar in the United States (though it fared less successfully in European markets). The body style was based on the classic Beetle, and it struck a chord with consumers who still had a place in their hearts for the iconic, cheerful-looking "love bug."

The new millennium saw Volkswagen moving into the luxury segment with the launch of the pricey Phaeton sedan and Touareg SUV. Though well-designed and executed, the Phaeton was a disappointment sales-wise, perhaps signaling unwillingness on the part of consumers to shell out premium dollars for a brand that lacks the cachet of established upscale names like BMW and Mercedes-Benz.

Luckily, Volkswagen has seen success with other vehicles in its lineup, which currently includes everything from family-oriented sedans to roomy SUVs. Today, the automaker enjoys a reputation for crafting vehicles that offer refined handling and upscale accommodations.

User Reviews:

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  woo hoo! - 1998 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By gogoguerilla - November 1 - 10:00 am

  I think the bug is the ULTIMATE road trip car in that its just a blast to drive... it has its quirks, but so do all cars.. and I prefer to see these "quirks" as "character"... Its a great car for med-long commutes as well as sporting arond town.. as aforementioned, its also done a few long hauls with me with no major problems. its a car that you instantly make a part of the family... i would recommend it to anyone whos not in dire need of tons of trunk space, but loves an airy, roomy, comfy, super fun car... id definitely also consider doing some upgrades, too (i.e. performance chip, exhaus improvement, etc.)

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  Best Looking Wagon on the Road - 2003 Volkswagen Passat
  By FoHGoR - November 1 - 10:00 am

  We love our Wagon. Its a great value with a ton of safety and standard features for less than $25K. The 1.8t has plenty of pull through most the gears-especially while using the tiptronic feature (Then you can add a chip for even more power). Theres plenty of room for a couple who are just starting a family. The perfect car for those of us who dont want a minivan nor an SUV.

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  Excellent value - 2017 Volkswagen Jetta
  By GM - October 31 - 6:16 pm

  Bought this Jetta SEL on an end of summer deal. Purchased it through Edmunds pricing request. The dealer honored the price and it was a steal! Care drives very good. The new engine and transmission combination is excellent. Sure, I could find fault with some aspects of this car, but overall I am very pleased with the driving experience. The SEL trim level is worth the extra price. Key-less operation, sunroof, nav. Fuel economy is very good at just over 30 mpg. Driver seat could be more comfortable. Brakes are excellent.

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  I hate it that I love it! - 2002 Volkswagen GTI
  By C. Putnam - October 30 - 4:20 pm

  From the day I drove this car off the lot, I have been in love with it. Every time I walk up to it, I get a sense of excitement that I am about to drive it. When I get in and flip out my laser-cut switchblade key and turn on the engine the adrenaline really starts to pump...then the engine light comes on for the third time in six months. Okay...no big deal. I hit the road and feel like lowering the windows to feel the wind blow through my hair. The auto down/up feature is really cool. I push the button and the window drops off the lowering arm with a crash. That IS a big deal. These are just two examples of the nitpicky things that torment VW Golfs, Jettas and GTIs. It is now for sale.

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  Cant get a better Drivers car for the money. - 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
  By matthew32 - October 30 - 9:13 am

  Have owned this car for about three years. It had 94k mi when I bought it and now has 118k. Have done a lot of repairs, but not any more than for the multitude of 100+ k mi vehicles I have owned in the past. The car came with service records and is in excellent condition for the age and mileage. I have done brakes, alternator, clutch, suspension, front susp bushings and ball joints. Unexpected repairs were: Fan Control Module, PS Pressure hose, timing chain. The TC broke at 117K, causing damage to 5 valves and an injector. Cost of repairs were around $4500, but still worth it considering that I have a 12 yr old car with 118k mi that looks, runs and drives like a new car.

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  Mostly Good - 2002 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By Heatherdear - October 30 - 1:16 am

  For the most part, my Beetle was a good car. It was small, easy to park, fun to drive, and got fairly good gas mileage. However, it seemed like every 4-5 months it had to go to the shop to get worke on because something went wrong. I went to the Post Office once and when I went to leave, the brake sensor went out so the car wouldnt recognize that I had my foot on the brake so I couldnt take the car out of park. It had to get the coils on several cylinders replaced multiple times. There were other issues as well but I still enjoyed the car. I can honestly say that in a bad accident, the has great safety features, providing miniscule injuries.

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  250k! <3 my bug. - 2000 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By dulciepoo - October 29 - 12:35 am

  My parents bought this car at 60k, gave it to me at 120k, and ive driven it up to 250k, and its still going. Ive had some issues, of course....its a car. Heating/cooling fan went out, clutch replaced once, windshield wiper fluid stopped spraying? cheap interior. Still, it is time I look for another car, and I am looking at VWs. Expensive repairs, but a VW will stay running forever. Do not pay $60 for your headlight. I bought the bulb for $12 and a small mechanic did labor for $8. Find someone else to do repairs! Youll pay 1/3 the price that you did at the dealer. Just make sure he/she knows what theyre doing.

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  Beautiful, but Ugly Gas Mileage - 2006 Volkswagen Touareg
  By snowboarder - October 28 - 7:56 pm

  Overall I love the truck...but I am finding some of the features difficult to use like the trip computer and even the a/c. The Volkswagen Touareg drives awesome though and makes up for the few shortcomings stated above. I havent taken it up to the mountains yet, but I intend to go up next weekend and I will write another review at that time. Oh, I almost forgot about the terrible gas mileage 13 mpg. VW needs to offer the Touared in front wheel drive to improve the gas mileage.

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  Fun to drive, keep your walking shoes - 2006 Volkswagen New Beetle
  By George H. - October 28 - 6:20 am

  Great visibility and fast, fun ride. Be prepared with your cell phone--mine has quit running twice, needed tow, took about a week to repair each time. Trunk wont unlock 80% of the time with either the remote or inside release and one of the remote key fobs just quit working. This review is from the owner of a 2005 Mercedes SLK (so I know fun to drive) and a 2006 Honda Ridgeline (so I know high quality). Before its out of warranty Im going to get something else--another Beetle if the JD Powers and Consumers Reports ratings improve. This beetle replaced a 2001 model I bought used; that one never broke. In fairness, this is a very early build of the new model.

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  And now the negitives - 2007 Volkswagen Rabbit
  By will not buy another - October 27 - 1:00 pm

  I have posted when I first bought this car. Mostly all positive. Still a good car, but I will not buy another. I drive hard (80 to 85 mph) on the highway as my commute is 70 miles round trip to work. My mileage is average 28 mpg which is ok. Things that disappoint me.. 1-a/c in glovebox, but no light. 2-can not open drivers door and lock from inside (without key). 3-can not sit in the dark with only radio lights on. All lights including bright driving lights will be on. 4-hatch lock locks on its own free will (when your not ready) 5-outlet and mp3 jack in glovebox (useless location) 6-no quick release to let seat down. The twist knob is poor choice, as I like to lean back. 7-expensive maintenance.